Day One
Check in to the country music-themed Sessions Hotel or The Bristol Hotel, both located Downtown and within walking distance to everything!
Tour the award-winning Birthplace of Country Music Museum, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution. Through multiple film experiences, interactive multimedia displays, permanent and traveling exhibits, and a working radio station (WBCM Radio Bristol), the museum tells the story of the legendary 1927 Bristol Sessions and how those recordings helped build the foundation of the country music industry. The Museum Store offers handmade gifts by local artisans and Bristol-centric items you won’t find anywhere else!
Lunch at the famous Burger Bar and ask about its Hank Williams history, then walk to Southern Churn for a sweet treat. Spend the afternoon exploring Bristol Caverns or enjoy the beauty of South Holston Lake on a one-mile loop wildlife trail. End your day shopping in Historic Downtown Bristol, a certified Main Street community.
From soul food to fine dining, Downtown Bristol has dinner covered. End the evening with a nightcap on your hotel’s rooftop bar!
Day Two
Breakfast at Bloom, then see the world’s fastest half-mile at Bristol Motor Speedway & Dragway. Make a souvenir at Kil’n Time, or test your problem-solving skills in the Tri-Cities Escape Room.
For great barbecue, either travel to Ridgewood BBQ in Bluff City, Tennessee, the South’s Best Barbeque according to Southern Living, or stay Downtown and dine at Delta Blues BBQ, Eatz on Moore or Southern Craft. Sample locally crafted beer at a Downtown brewery or have a tasting at Lost State Distilling.
Take in live music Downtown or experience great bluegrass at The Carter Family Fold on a Saturday night. There’s also The Down Home in Johnson City, Tennessee, a music mecca since the 1970’s. End your evening with dessert at Blackbird Bakery, Virginia’s #1 bakery, open until midnight (closed Sundays).
Day Three
Breakfast at the Old Lighthouse Diner, then visit the childhood home of entertainer and Bristol native, Tennessee Ernie Ford. Drive to Southwest Virginia Cultural Center & Marketplace in Abingdon, Virginia to peruse pottery and crafts made by regional artisans, sample local wines, and have lunch. Take in an exhibit at the William King Museum of Art or watch weavers, potters, and painters create at the Arts Depot. Have dinner at The Tavern, a 1779 historic inn, and Abingdon’s oldest building. That evening, take in show at Barter Theatre, the state theatre of Virginia.
